Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi, I'm new to AP and live in Brisbane. I have a question about Jade Perch. I have heard that they stop metabolizing food below 18 degrees and death below 14 degrees. Does that mean if you want to keep Jade Perch in Brisbane you require heating during winter as occasionally the temps might get down to 4 degrees but average is about 8 to 20 degrees?

Thanks for any help

David

I live in north Brisbane. Last year I monitored my system (with silvers) over winter (IBC's) and I hit 12 degrees 3 times.

This year I have a small low voltage pump and hose that I am going to have run out on the lawn and on a timer. At night I turned off the pump and just ran air, the air pump was in a polystyrene box and it got a little warm but not enough to damage it. That pushed warm air through the water to help it from dropping. I might even experiment with some insulation wrapped around the outside this year.

I will never bother using electricity to heat it. Heaps of water mass left in the sun during the day sustains me through the night. . . . I am at about 4000 litres atm. I did notice the black 200ltr barrels I have warmed up quite nicely recently on an overcast day. . . . .

I think Jades are an ideal fish for Brisbane, even during winter.

as long as you get some weight on them before winter sets in, you wont have any problems. mine are 2 winters old now, and yes, they stop feeding over winter, but they certainly dont just curl up their tails and die.

but i wouldnt be waiting much longer to get fingerlings started this season

Whats the lowest temps you have recorded during winter Orcy

Had 3 jades in my big system over last winter but I don't think they made it. The videos I have taken in that tank don't show them, so I think they must have become lunch for the silvers

I'm dubious about the viability o f Jade Perch south of the mid north coast of NSW....

I certainly would not be recommending them for anyone south of Sydney.... let alone Victoria...

charlie, i've never measured them. I doubt the water temp gets below 10-12c though. we have maybe 3 or 4 nights a year where it might get down to zero, but thats it. daytime temps are always above 15.

I really should get ay arduino running and start recording some temps.

Or buy a thermometer...

Rupert, i'd have to read a thermometer. I dont even have a rain gauge because I never read them and empty them enough

So what makes you thing you're going to read an arduino display then...

I work at a computer all day every day. if the arduino is logging and I can get it at any time I want, I 'll def plot the output